Brussels, 17 June 2026 – The European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) held its General Assembly in Brussels, preceded by a networking event bringing together partners from across the forestry and wood value chain and policy makers.

Addressing participants, EOS President Tommi Sneck highlighted the importance of cooperation across the sector and reaffirmed the strategic role of the sawmill industry within Europe’s bioeconomy. With nearly 32.000 companies, more than 220.000 jobs and a turnover exceeding EUR 51 billion, the sector remains a key supplier of renewable, sustainable and low-carbon materials.
A central theme of the discussions was the growing pressure on raw material supply resulting from climate change, pest outbreaks and policy developments. EOS stressed that sustainable forest management and forest protection must go hand in hand with ensuring a stable supply of renewable raw materials for European industries.

EOS Vice-President for Hardwood Maria Kiefer-Polz highlighted the particular challenges facing the hardwood sector, including long-standing shortages of logs and declining domestic consumption. At the same time, she underlined the significant opportunities offered by hardwood resources, especially in construction and other high-value applications.
Remaining focused on raw material supply and the potential implications of EU legislation for the sector, the General Assembly also featured a presentation by Frida Sund Falkevik (DG CLIMA, European Commission) on recent developments regarding the LULUCF Regulation and the future EU Climate Policy Framework beyond 2030. Participants also received an update from Gonzalo González Jurado (DG ENV, European Commission) on the new Birds Directive Guidance and the ongoing stress test of the Birds and Habitats Directives. The two presentations provided a valuable basis for a constructive and forward-looking exchange among members, allowing them to discuss concerns related to the potential implications of these legislative policy files.

As every year, EOS also officially presented its Annual Report, providing an overview of the latest market developments, policy activities and key achievements of the European sawmill industry. The EOS Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of sawnwood production, consumption, and trade. EOS would like to express its sincere gratitude to the sponsors of this year’s edition: COMACT, Indufor, Incomac, Mayr-Melnhof Holz, MICROTEC and Russ Taylor Global. Their valuable support is highly appreciated.

According to data shared by EOS members, production of sawn softwood in EOS countries declined by 1.5% in 2025 and is expected to contract slightly again in 2026 due to challenging market conditions, particularly in Europe, where construction markets remain subdued.

Softwood production peaked in 2021 and fell by around 10% over the following two years. Since 2023, production has remained relatively stable, albeit at a lower level than before the pandemic.
The situation is similar in the hardwood sector. Sawn hardwood production in 2025 was 0.2% higher than in 2024, following a significant decline after the 2021 peak. Production is expected to increase slightly in 2026.
Other highlights of the Annual Report include a chapter on European construction markets, featuring an analysis of wood’s market share as a building material across numerous European countries, as well as an extensive review of the advocacy activities carried out by EOS over the past year.

The report also includes a chapter dedicated to raw material availability, summarising the findings of FOREST EUROPE’s recently released flagship publication, State of Europe’s Forests 2025. The report shows that European forests continue to accumulate standing volume overall and remain well within sustainable limits. Growing stock continues to increase, as volume increment has consistently exceeded harvesting levels.

The General Assembly concluded with a clear message: Europe needs policies that protect forests, support sustainable forest management, secure access to raw materials and enable the entire forest-based value chain to invest, innovate and contribute to Europe’s climate and industrial objectives.